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Six bidders pre-qualify for power privatization
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Posted on Dec 16 2004
Six independent power producers have pre-qualified for the planned privatization of Commonwealth Utilities Corp. power plants 1 and 2 on Saipan.
CUC chair Francisco Guerrero said Harris Group, the consulting firm hired by CUC to do the scope of work and evaluation of proposals for the privatization project, is giving the proposers until January to submit their final offer.
“[Harris Group officials] are due to come here soon to update the CUC management about all the inquiries that they received from proposers,” Guerrero said.
He said that by late January or early February, Harris is expected to recommend to CUC the independent power producer which the consultants think can best run the power plants.
“They will make a final recommendation so CUC can negotiate terms, price, and transfer of the existing power plants,” Guerrero said.
Working on behalf of CUC, Harris Group had put out a request for proposals from independent power producers to modernize, upgrade, operate, and transfer Power Plants 1 and 2.
CUC has four power plants: two in Lower Base, one in Isley Field, which is not operational; and the Puerto Rico power plant, which is being petitioned by local residents to be relocated due to noise and alleged environmental pollution.
The Puerto Rico plant is run by a private group.
CUC hired Harris Group at $103,000.
The utility firm earlier said that Harris Group would assist the utility corporation “till the end” to ensure that “we attract the best of the best in global energy producers to partner with our utility, bringing Saipan customers and commercial firms reliable electricity at the cheapest costs.”
CUC said that Harris Group’s scope of work involves the current and future energy requirements for Saipan, based on various economic factors or clients and their potential use of electricity.
